BORERS are a problem in many parts of the country. Signs of borer
include small pinholes in the leaves, notched leaves during early summer,
small piles resembling sawdust around the base of the plant and hollowed
out rhizomes. Garden cleanliness is a must in borer control. Eggs hatch
from the first of April until July and spraying must be done at that time,
preferably beginning when the leaves are about six inches high. Merit®
should be used on a weekly basis in the recommended dilutions. Check to
make sure this spray is recommended for iris in your area. If you discover
a borer in a rhizome, dig it out and destroy it. Soft rot often accompanies
borer damage.
CREATING NEW VARIETIES
(HYBRIDIZING)
Betty Wood
Now that you are acquainted with some of the many different kinds of
irises, you may wonder how they are created. You can produce irises
with flowers unlike any existing flower by “crossing” two irises with
each other. This is called “seed propagation.” It is so easy that hundreds
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